Shim for use in siding application

ABSTRACT

An improved shim for use in a siding application includes an elongated sheet of shim stock having a number of elongated indicators thereon to enable the sheet of shim stock to be cut into any of a variety of predetermined sizes for use with a variety of different accessories. In an exemplary depicted embodiment, the sheet of shim stock also includes an elongated V-groove disposed generally centrally thereon. The V-groove enables the sheet of shim stock to be deflected between a substantially planar configuration and an angled configuration. The indicators provide detectable guides along which the sheet of shim stock can be disunited to remove desired excess portions of the sheet of shim stock in order to provide a resultant shim having a transverse size that is suited for use in conjunction with a particularly accessory.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to siding for a building and, more particularly, to a shim that can be used with a variety of different accessories in a siding application including siding panels having a siding portion and a backer portion.

2. Background of the Invention

Numerous types of exterior treatments can be provided on buildings. Among such exterior treatments are siding applications that may include, for instance, aluminum siding and vinyl siding applications, among other types of siding applications.

Siding applications typically include siding panels that have a profile shaped to resemble clapboard or other such exterior styling and that are mounted to an exterior of a building. Some siding panels include a siding portion and a backer portion, with the siding portion facing outwardly from the building and providing the clapboard or other appearance, and with the backer portion being disposed between the siding portion and the building. The siding portion may be a formed sheet of material such as vinyl or aluminum and may serve to provide weather resistance and impact resistance to the building. The backer portion may be formed of a plastic foam or other solid material and may be provided to insulate the building and/or to add stiffness to the siding portion, and/or for other reasons. In some applications the siding portion and the backer portion can be fixedly connected together.

For aesthetic reasons, and for other reasons, siding panels in a siding application typically are augmented with accessory pieces that typically are formed from sheets of material such as vinyl or aluminum. Such accessory pieces might include elongated accessories that cover outside corners or inside corners where siding panels in different orientations terminate adjacent one another. Accessories also can be employed around windows, doors, and in conjunction with other features of the building. A wide variety of accessories in various colors can be employed in any given siding application to provide a variety of different aesthetic effects.

Problems can be encountered, however, in siding applications in which the siding panels include both a siding portion and a backer portion, with the backer portion spacing the siding portion away from the building. Since the accessories typically must be aligned with the siding portions of the siding panels for aesthetic and/or functional reasons, the accessories in such applications typically must be spaced from a building substantially the same distance as the siding portions are spaced from the building by the backer portions. A shim is often provided in such a situation, and the shim is disposed between the accessory in the building to space the accessory away from the building and into alignment with the siding portions. Such shims can be extremely cumbersome to use in practice since the wide variety of accessories can necessitate the use of a wide variety of shims. Such a wide variety of shims can require large amounts of storage space and significant inventory expense, and additionally can be difficult to efficiently employ due to their large number. It thus would be desirable to provide an acceptable solution to meet the shimming needs of the wide variety of accessories in a siding application withou the typical drawbacks to such usage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, an improved shim for use in a siding application includes an elongated sheet of shim stock having a number of elongated indicators thereon to enable the sheet of shim stock to be cut into any of a variety of predetermined size for use with a variety of different accessories. In an exemplary depicted embodiment, the sheet of shim stock also includes an elongated V-groove disposed generally centrally thereon, and further includes four of the indicators spaced apart and disposed at one side of the V-groove and another four indicators similarly positioned at another side of the V-groove. The V-groove enables the sheet of shim stock to be deflected between a substantially planar configuration and an angled configuration. The indicators provide detectable guides along which the sheet of shim stock can be disunited to remove desired excess portions of the sheet of shim stock in order to provide a resultant shim having a transverse size that is suited for use in conjunction with a particularly accessory. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the indicators are elongated notches formed in the sheet of shim stock.

Accordingly, an aspect of the invention is to provide an improved shim that can be configured for use in conjunction with a wide variety of accessories.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved shim including a sheet of shim stock having a number of indicators thereon that enable the sheet of shim stock to be disunited into one or more predetermined configurations that depend upon the positioning of the indicator and that enable use of at least a portion of the disunited sheet of shim stock in conjunction with a particular accessory from among a group of different accessories.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved shim including a sheet of shim stock having a V-groove disposed thereon that enables the sheet of shim stock to be deflectable between a substantially planar configuration and an angled configuration.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved shim that can be used in conjunction with any of a variety of different accessories in a siding application to reduce the quantity of different shim materials that must be inventoried, taken to a worksite, and managed during the installation of a siding application.

Accordingly, an aspect ofthe invention is to provide an improved shim structured for use in conjunction with any of a plurality of different elongated accessories in a siding application on a building. The siding application additionally includes a number of siding panels usable in conjunction with the accessories, with the siding panels generally each including a siding portion and a backer portion. The general nature of the shim can be stated as including an elongated sheet of shim stock having an average thickness, and elongated indicator disposed on the sheet of shim stock and extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock. The indicator provides a detectable guide along which the sheet of shim stock can be disunited to form an elongated first portion and an elongated second portion, with the first portion having a transverse size that is at least in part predetermined by the location of the indicator on the sheet of shim stock. The transverse size of the first portion enables it to cooperate with at least a first elongated accessory having a set of transverse dimensions, with the transverse size of the first portion substantially corresponding with at least a portion of the set of transverse dimensions when the first portion is used on the building in conjunction with the at least first accessory. The first portion is disposed between the at least first accessory and the building to space the at least first accessory away from the building a distance substantially equal to the average thickness of the first portion and into alignment with the siding portion of at least one of the siding panels when the at least one of the siding panels is disposed on the building with the backer portion thereof being disposed between the building and the siding portion.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved method of installing a number of accessories in a siding application on a building. The siding application additionally includes a number of siding panels usable in conjunction with the accessories. The siding panels generally each include a siding portion and a backer portion. The general nature of the method can be stated as including providing a shim that can be used in conjunction with any of a plurality of different elongated accessories in the siding application, with the shim including an elongated sheet of shim stock having an average thickness. The sheet of shim stock includes an elongated indicator disposed thereon and extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock. The indicator provides a detectable guide along which the sheet of shim stock can be disunited to form an elongated first portion and an elongated second portion, with the first portion having a transverse size that is at least in part predetermined by the location of the indicator on the sheet of shim stock. The method further includes selecting at least a first elongated accessory for application to the building, with the at least first accessory having a set of transverse dimensions, and determining from the set of transverse dimensions of the at least first accessory whether or not the sheet of shim stock should be disunited at the indicator to form the first and second portions. The method further includes performing one of: (a) retaining the sheet of shim stock without disuniting along the indicator, and (b) disuniting the sheet of shim stock along the indicator to form the first and second portions, with the transverse size of the first portion substantially corresponding with at least a portion of the set of transverse dimensions. The method further includes disposing the at least first accessory and the one of the non-disunited sheet of shim stock and the first portion of the disunited sheet of shim stock on the building, with the one of the sheet of shim stock and the first portion of the sheet of shim stock being disposed between the at least first accessory and the building to space the at least first accessory away from the building a distance substantially equal to the average thickness and into alignment with the siding portion of at least one of the siding panels when the at least one of the siding panels is disposed on the building with the backer portion thereof being disposed between the building and the siding portion.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved siding application on a building, in which the general nature of the siding application can be stated as including an elongated accessory having a set of transverse dimensions and being disposed on the building, a shim, and a number of siding panels disposed on the building. The siding panels generally each include a siding portion and a backer portion, with the siding portion of at least one of the number of siding panels being aligned with the accessory. The backer portion of the at least one of the number siding panels is disposed between the building and the siding portion of the at least one of the number siding panels. The shim initially includes an elongated sheet of shim stock having an average thickness and having an elongated indicator disposed on the sheet of shim stock and extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock. The indicator provides a detectable guide along which the sheet of shim stock was disunited to form an elongated first portion and an elongated second portion. The first portion has a transverse size that is at least in part predetermined by the location of the indicator on the sheet of shim stock, and the transverse size of the first portion enables it to cooperate with the accessory, with the transverse size of the first portion substantially corresponding with at least a portion of the set of transverse dimensions. The first portion is disposed between the accessory and the building and spaces the accessory away from the building a distance substantially equal to the average thickness of the first portion and into alignment with the siding portion of the at least one of the number of siding panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A further understanding of the invention can be gained from the following Description of the Preferred Embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved shim in accordance with the invention in a substantially planar configuration;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the improved shim of FIG. 1 in an angled configuration;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the improved shim of FIG. 1 in a siding application on a building;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the improved shim of FIG. 1 in a first disunited configuration in conjunction with an accessory:

FIG. 5 is an end view of a disunited portion of the improved shim of FIG. 4 in conjunction with another accessory:

FIG. 6 is an end view of the improved shim of FIG. 1 in another disunited configuration is conjunction with another accessory;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the improved shim of FIG. 1 in another disunited configuration in conjunction with another accessory; and

FIG. 8 is an end view of the improved shim of FIG. 1 in another disunited configuration in conjunction with another accessory mounted to an inside corner of the building

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An improved shim 4 in accordance with the invention is indicated generally in FIG. 2 and is depicted partially in FIG. 1. The shim 4 includes an elongated sheet of shim stock 8 formed of a flexible or semi-flexible material that may be, for example, a lightweight foam material or other appropriate material. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the elongated sheet of shim stock 8 is four feet in length and has an average thickness 12 of about 0.47 inches, although other dimensions and proportions can be provided without departing from the concept of the invention. As will be described in greater detail below, the sheet of shim stock 8 can be used in either of the conditions depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The sheet of shim stock 8 can alternatively be disunited in any of a number of fashions to provide portions thereof in predetermined configurations that can similarly be used in different ways. As used herein, the expressions “disunite”, “disunited”, “disuniting”, and variations thereof shall refer broadly to an alteration of a sheet of shim stock or portion thereof from an initial unitary member, such as would be provided by a monolithic single-piece member, into a plurality separate portions of the sheet of shim stock, such as could be provided by cutting, tearing, breaking, separating, severing, or otherwise dividing the unitary initial member into a subsequent plurality of separate portions. In general, the sheet of shim stock 8 or portions thereof are used in association with any of a number of different accessories in a siding application. As used herein, the expression “accessory” and variations thereof shall refer broadly to articles that can be used in a siding application and that cooperate, such as functionally or aesthetically or otherwise, with siding panels. Exemplary accessories depicted herein include outside corner accessories, inside corner accessories, and other accessories, but it is understood that numerous other types of accessories not expressly depicted herein can be employed in conjunction with the shim 4 without departing from the concept of the invention.

The sheet of shim stock 4 includes a first face 16 and a second face 20 opposite thereto. The sheet of shim stock 8 further includes an elongated first side 24 and an elongated second side 28 opposite thereto.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the shim 4 includes a plurality of elongated indicators 32 disposed on the first face 16 of the sheet of shim stock 8. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the shim 4 additionally includes an elongated V-groove 36 formed in the sheet of shim stock 8 and disposed on the second face 20. As employed herein, the expression “V-groove” and variations thereof shall refer broadly to any type of elongated channel that is formed in a structure and that permits the structure to be deflected about the channel, and can be angled in cross section or can be of other shapes such as U-shapes or other types of shapes. The indicators 32 are spaced apart from one another and extend substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock 8. The V-groove 36 similarly extends substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock 8, and thus extends substantially parallel with the indicators 32. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the indicators 32 are shallow notches formed in the first face 16, although they could be of other configurations, such as markings on the first face 16, a protrusion extending outwardly from the first face 16, a series of discrete structures or markings spaced from one another and aligned in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock 8, and the like, without departing from the concept of the invention.

In the exemplary depicted embodiment, the indicators 32 include a pair of first indicators 44 and 48, a pair of second indicators 52 and 56, a pair of third indicators 62 and 64, and a pair of fourth indicators 68 and 72. The indicators 44, 52, 62, and 68 are spaced apart from one another and are disposed at one side of the V-groove 36. The indicators 48, 56, 64, and 72 are similarly spaced apart from one another and are disposed at a second, opposite side of the V-groove 36. The indicators 32 are thus arranged in a mirror image fashion with respect to the V-groove 36.

In the exemplary depicted embodiment, the first indicators 44 and 48 are each spaced 3.50 inches away from an apex 40 (FIG. 1) of the V-groove 36 in opposite directions therefrom. The second indicators 52 and 56 are spaced 4.00 inches in opposite directions away from the apex 40. The third indicators 62 and 64 are spaced 4.50 inches in opposite directions away from the apex 40. The fourth indicators 68 and 72 are spaced 5.06 inches in opposite directions away from the apex 40. The first and second sides 24 and 28 of the non-disunited sheet of shim stock 8 are each spaced 6.38 inches in opposite directions away from the apex 40. It is understood that in other embodiments of the shim 4 the indicators 32 can be arranged in different fashions and can be arranged other than in the mirror image fashion depicted herein in the exemplary embodiment without departing from the concept of the invention.

In the exemplary depicted embodiment, the notches which represent the indicators 32 may be formed to a depth of, for instance, 0.12 inches into the sheet of shim stock 8 from the first face 16, and the indicators 32 may be, for instance, of a V-shaped configuration with an included angle of, for instance, 60°. It is understood that the notches can be of other configurations without departing from the concept of the invention. The exemplary V-groove 36 has an included angle which permits the sheet of shim stock 8 to be deflected between a generally planar configuration, such as is depicted generally in FIG. 1, and an angled configuration in which the sheet of shim stock 8 includes portions disposed non-coplanar with respect to one another, such as is depicted generally in FIG. 2. The exemplary V-groove 36 depicted herein has an included angle of about 90°. Other configurations of the V-groove 36 can be provided without departing from the concept of the invention.

As can be understood from FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet of shim stock 8 in its pre-disunited configuration is of an initial transverse size 76, with the word “transverse” and variations thereof referring broadly herein to a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock 8. When the sheet of shim stock 8 is disunited, the resulting transverse size 76 of the remaining portion of the disunited sheet of shim stock 8, as well as the removed portions thereof, are relatively smaller in a transverse direction than the transverse size 76 of the non-disunited sheet of shim stock 8. It is understood that any of the non-disunited sheet of shim stock 8 and disunited portions thereof may be referred to herein as constituting the shim 4.

As mentioned above, the shim 4 is advantageously employed in a siding application 80 (FIG. 3) on a building 84. The siding application 80 includes a number of siding panels 88 and a number of accessories 92. As employed herein, the expression a number of and variations thereof shall refer broadly to any non-zero quantity, including a quantity of one. The exemplary siding panel 88 depicted in FIG. 3 in a cut away fashion includes a siding portion 96 and a backer portion 100. The siding portion 96 may be made of a material such as vinyl, aluminum, or other appropriate material, and faces away from the building 84 when the siding panel 88 is installed on the building 84. The backer portion 100 is disposed between the siding portion 96 and the building 84 and is formed of any of a wide variety of materials such as solidified foam, insulative materials, or other such appropriate materials. The backer portion 100 spaces the siding portion 96 a particular distance away from the building 84. The shim 4 advantageously spaces the accessories 92 away from the building 84 a substantially equal distance such that the accessory 92 and the siding portion 96 of the siding panel 88 are advantageously aligned with respect to their spaced-away distance from the building 84. As employed herein, the expression “aligned” and variations thereof, when used in the context of a relationship between an accessory 92 and a siding portion 96 of a siding panel 88, shall refer to the accessory 92 and the siding portion 96 being spaced particular distances away from a reference such as the building 84 to permit desirable operative and/or aesthetic interaction therebetween, and such spacing potentially could be in no-parallel directions depending upon the specific configuration of the accessory 92 and the siding portion 96.

The sheet of shim stock 8 in its non-disunited configuration is depicted generally in FIG. 3 as employed in conjunction with an outside corner of the building 84. The accessory 92 of FIG. 3, in conjunction with which the non-disunited sheet of shim stock 8 is provided, includes a first accessory 104, a second accessory 108, and a third accessory 112, with a third accessory 112 being disposed generally to between the first and second accessories, 104 and 108. The first, second, and third accessories 104, 108, and 112, are all elongated and together have a set of transverse dimensions 116 which particularly include a first edge 120 on the first accessory 104 and a second edge 124 on the second accessory 108. As can be understood from FIG. 3, the first side 24 of the sheet of shim stock 8 is disposed generally flush with the first edge 120, and the second side 28 is disposed generally flush with the second edge 124 when the sheet of shim stock 8 is disposed between the building 84 and the accessory 92. It thus can be seen that the transverse size 76 of the sheet of shim stock 8 corresponds with the set of transverse dimensions 116 of the accessory 92. As will be described in greater detail below, the sheet of shim stock 80 can be disunited in various fashions to provide various predetermined transverse sizes 76 that correspond with at least a portion of the set of transverse dimensions of each of a variety of different accessories 92.

As can be understood from FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet of shim stock 8 can be said to include a first leg 128 extending substantially between the apex 40 and the first side 24, and a second leg 132 extending substantially between the apex 40 and the second side 28. When the sheet of shim stock 8 is in the planar configuration (FIG. 1) the first and second legs 128 and 132 are oriented substantially coplanar. When the sheet of shim stock 8 is deflected to the angled configuration (FIG. 2) the first and second legs 128 and 132 are non-coplanar, and rather are oriented at an angle with respect to one another, and this angle can be 90° or other angles greater or potentially lesser than 90°. It is to be understood that the first leg 128 is referred to herein as that portion of the sheet of shim stock 8, whether or not the sheet of shim stock 8 has been disunited in any fashion, extending from the apex 40 toward the first side 24, and that the second leg 132 similarly is that portion of the sheet of shim stock 8 extending from the apex 40 toward the second side 28, whether or not the sheet of shim stock 8 has been disunited in any fashion. The first leg 128 and the second leg 132 as referred to herein thus can be either non-disunited or disunited portions of the sheet of shim stock 8.

The disunited sheet of shim stock 8 is depicted in FIG. 3 in the angled configuration. It is understood that the sheet of shim stock 8, whether or not disunited, can also be employed in the planar configuration in conjunction with an accessory, although this is not expressly depicted herein.

A disunited configuration of the sheet of shim stock 1008 is depicted generally in FIG. 4. The disunited sheet of shim stock 1008 is employed in conjunction with an accessory 1092 that includes a first accessory 1104 and a second accessory 1108. The set of transverse dimensions of the accessory 1092 are based at least in part upon a first edge 1120 of the first accessory 1104 and a second edge 1124 on the second accessory 1108.

It can be seen that the sheet of shim stock 1008 has been disunited at the third indicator 1062 to result in a first portion 1136 and a second portion 1140 as follows. The first portion 1136 includes a first leg 1128 that extends from the apex 1040 to the location of the third indicator 1062, at which point is disposed a first side 1024 since the sheet of shim stock 1008 has been disunited at that location. The first portion 1136 additionally includes a second leg 1132 extending from the apex 1040 to another location where the sheet of shim stock 1008 was disunited to remove a third portion (not shown) and to define a second side 1028. In this regard, it is to be understood that the sheet of shim stock can be disunited at regions other than those which are indicated by the indicators without departing from the concept of the invention. The second portion 1140 is that portion of the sheet of shim stock that has been disunited from the first portion 1136 at the third indicator 1062.

FIG. 5 depicts the second portion 1140 of FIG. 4 being used in conjunction with an accessory 2092 having a first edge 2120 and a second edge 2124. The second portion 1140 is that which was disunited, i.e., removed, from the sheet of shim stock 1008 of FIG. 4, and the second portion 1140 also has defined thereon a first side 2024 and a second side 2028. The first side 2024 is generally flush with the first edge 2120, and the second side 2028 is generally flush with the second edge 2124.

It thus can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5 that the sheet of shim stock 1008 can be disunited, such as along the third indicator 1062 to provide the first and second portions 1136 and 1140, each of which has a predetermined transverse size that corresponds with an accessory. The predetermined transverse sizes of the portions of the disunited sheet of shim stock 1008 are predetermined at least partially according to the position of the indicator 1062, or other indicator, on the sheet of shim stock 1008.

FIG. 6 depicts the sheet of shim stock 3008 in conjunction with an accessory 3092, with the sheet of shim stock 3008 having been disunited at the second indicators 3052 and 3056 to result in a first side 3024 formed at the location of the second indicator 3052 and a second side 3028 formed at the location of the second indicator 3056. The accessory 3092 includes a first edge 3120 and a second edge 3124. The first side 3024 is generally flush with the first edge 3120, and the second side 3028 is generally flush with the second edge 3124.

FIG. 7 depicts the sheet of shim stock 4008 in conjunction with an accessory 4092, with the sheet of shim stock 4008 having been disunited at the fourth indicators 4068 and 4072 to result in a first side 4024 formed at the location of the fourth indicator 4068 amd a second side 4028 formed at the location of the fourth indicator 4072. The accessory 4092 includes a first edge 4120 and a second edge 4124. The first side 4024 is generally flush with the first edge 4120, and the second side 4028 is generally flush with the second edge 4124.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the sheet of shim stock 5008 has been disunited and is used in conjunction with an accessory 5092 to mount the accessory 5092 to an inside corner 5144 of the building 84. Specifically, the sheet of shim stock 5008 is disposed between the inside corner 5144 and the accessory 5092. It can be seen that the sheet of shim stock 5008 was disunited at the first indicators 5044 and 5048 to form a first side 5024 and a second side 5028, respectively, on the sheet of shim stock 5008. The accessory 5092 include the first edge 5120 and a second edge 5124. The first side 5024 is disposed generally flush with the first edge 5120, and the second side 5028 is disposed generally flush with the second edge 5124.

It thus can be seen that the shim 4 includes the sheet of shim stock 8 which employed in its unitary form or can be employed in part after disuniting of shim stock 8 to provide a first portion, a second portion, and the like that may termined transverse size that is at least partially dependent on the positioning of the indicators 32 along which the sheet of shim stock 8 is disunited. The indicators 32 can be detected, such as visually, and serve as guides for disuniting the sheet of shim stock 8, which facilitates installation of the resulting shim 4 by configuring the shim 4 to correspond with an intended accessory 92. It can be seen that the sheet of shim stock 8 can be disunited other than along one of the indicators 32, such as in the way the sheet of shim stock 1008 was disunited to form the second side 1028 other than at the location of an indicator. The shim 4 can also be employed in the planar configuration or in the angled configuration, whether the sheet of shim stock 8 is non-disunited or has been disunited. The shims 4, whether resulting from the unitary sheet of shim stock 8 or a disunited portion thereof, space the respective accessory 92 away from the building 84 and into alignment with the siding portions 96 of a number of siding panels 88 in a siding application 80. For the sake of clarity, the siding panels 88 have not been depicted in the FIGS. 4-8, it being understood that the shims 1004, 2004, 3004, 4004, and 5004 thereof space the accessory 1092, 2092, 3092, 4092, and 5092 away from the building 84 (which likewise may or not be expressly depicted) by a distance substantially equal to the average thickness 12 and into alignment with the siding portions 96 of the siding panels 88.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof. 

1. A shim structured for use in conjunction with any of a plurality of different elongated accessories in a siding application on a building, the siding application additionally including a number of siding panels usable in conjunction with the accessories, the siding panels generally each including a siding portion and a backer portion, the shim comprising: an elongated sheet of shim stock having an average thickness; an elongated indicator disposed on the sheet of shim stock and extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock; and the indicator providing a detectable guide along which the sheet of shim stock can be disunited to form an elongated first portion and an elongated second portion, the first portion having a transverse size that is at least in part predetermined by the location of the indicator on the sheet of shim stock, the transverse size of the first portion enabling it to cooperate with at least a first elongated accessory having a set of transverse dimensions, with the transverse size of the first portion substantially corresponding with at least a portion of the set of transverse dimensions when the first portion is used on the building in conjunction with the at least first accessory, the first portion being disposed between the at least first accessory and the building to space the at least first accessory away from the building a distance substantially equal to the average thickness of the first portion and into alignment with the siding portion of at least one of the siding panels when the at least one of the siding panels is disposed on the building with the backer portion thereof being disposed between the building and the siding portion.
 2. The shim of claim 1 wherein the first portion terminates at an elongated first side and an elongated second side, the at least first accessory terminating at an elongated first edge and an elongated second edge, the first side being disposed generally flush with the first edge, and the second side being disposed generally flush with the second edge.
 3. The shim of claim 2 wherein the at least first accessory includes a plurality of elongated accessories used in conjunction with one another.
 4. The shim of claim 1 wherein the second portion is structured to be usable on the building in conjunction with a second accessory that terminates at an elongated first edge and at an elongated second edge, the second portion terminating at an elongated first side and an elongated second side, the second portion being disposed between the second accessory and the building to space the second accessory away from the building a distance substantially equal to the average thickness of the second portion and into alignment with the siding portion of at least one of the siding panels when the at least one of the siding panels is disposed on the building with the backer portion thereof being disposed between the building and the siding portion, the first side of the second portion being disposed generally flush with the first edge of the second accessory, and the second side of the second portion being disposed generally flush with the second edge of the second accessory.
 5. The shim of claim 1 wherein the sheet of shim stock is structured to be usable on the building in conjunction with a third accessory that terminates at an elongated first edge and at an elongated second edge, the sheet of shim stock terminating at an elongated first side and an elongated second side, the sheet of shim stock being disposed between the third accessory and the building to space the third accessory away from the building a distance substantially equal to the average thickness of the sheet of shim stock and into alignment with the siding portion of at least one of the siding panels when the at least one of the siding panels is disposed on the building with the backer portion thereof being disposed between the building and the siding portion, the first side of the sheet of shim stock being disposed generally flush with the first edge of the third accessory, and the second side of the sheet of shim stock being disposed generally flush with the second edge of the third accessory.
 6. The shim of claim 1 wherein the sheet of shim stock has a plurality of spaced apart elongated indicators extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock, any of the indicators being selectable to serve as a guide for disuniting the sheet of shim stock into the first and second portions in order to provide at least one of the first portion and the second portion with a desired predetermined transverse dimension for use in conjunction with one of the accessories.
 7. The shim of claim 6 wherein at least one of the indicators is a notch formed in the sheet of shim stock.
 8. The shim of claim 1 wherein the sheet of shim stock includes an elongated V-groove formed therein that is generally V-shaped and that extends substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock, the sheet of shim stock including an elongated first leg adjacent the V-groove and an elongated second leg adjacent the V-groove, the sheet of shim stock being deflectable about the V-groove between a substantially planar configuration wherein the first and second legs are generally coplanar and an angled configuration wherein the first and second legs are oriented non-coplanar.
 9. The shim of claim 8 wherein the sheet of shim stock includes a plurality of elongated indicators disposed thereon, a first of the indicators being spaced in a first direction from the V-groove, a second of the indicators being spaced in a second direction from the V-groove, any of the indicators being selectable to serve as a guide for disuniting the sheet of shim stock into the first and second portions in order to provide at least one of the first portion and the second portion with a desired predetermined transverse dimension for use in conjunction with one of the accessories.
 10. The shim of claim 9 wherein the first of the indicators and the second of the indicators are spaced substantially equal distances in opposite directions from the V-groove.
 11. The shim of claim 8 wherein the sheet of shim stock includes a first plurality of spaced apart indicators disposed thereon and spaced in a first direction from the V-groove, the sheet of shim stock further including a second plurality of spaced apart indicators disposed thereon and spaced in a second, opposite direction from the V-groove, the spacing of the first plurality of indicators in the first direction from the V-groove being substantially the same as the spacing of the second plurality of indicators in the second direction from the V-groove.
 12. The shim of claim 11 wherein the sheet of shim stock includes a first face and a second face, the first plurality of indicators and the second plurality of indicators being disposed on the first face, the V-groove being disposed on the second face.
 13. The shim of claim 12 wherein at least one of the indicators of the first and second pluralities of indicators is a notch formed in the sheet of shim stock, any one or more of the indicators being selectable to serve as a guide for disuniting the sheet of shim stock in order to provide at least one of the first portion and the second portion with a desired predetermined transverse dimension for use in conjunction with one of the accessories.
 14. A method of installing a number of accessories in a siding application on a building, the siding application additionally including a number of siding panels usable in conjunction with the accessories, the siding panels generally each including a siding portion and a backer portion, the method comprising: providing a shim that can be used in conjunction with any of a plurality of different elongated accessories in the siding application, the shim including an elongated sheet of shim stock having an average thickness, the sheet of shim stock including an elongated indicator disposed thereon and extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock, the indicator providing a detectable guide along which the sheet of shim stock can be disunited to form an elongated first portion and an elongated second portion, the first portion having a transverse size that is at least in part predetermined by the location of the indicator on the sheet of shim stock; selecting at least a first elongated accessory for application to the building, the at least first accessory having a set of transverse dimensions; determining from the set of transverse dimensions of the at least first accessory whether or not the sheet of shim stock should be disunited at the indicator to form the first and second portions; and performing one of: retaining the sheet of shim stock without disuniting along the indicator; and disuniting the sheet of shim stock along the indicator to form the first and second portions, with the transverse size of the first portion substantially corresponding with at least a portion of the set of transverse dimensions; and disposing the at least first accessory and the one of the non-disunited sheet of shim stock and the first portion of the disunited sheet of shim stock on the building, with the one of the sheet of shim stock and the first portion of the sheet of shim stock being disposed between the at least first accessory and the building to space the at least first accessory away from the building a distance substantially equal to the average thickness and into alignment with the siding portion of at least one of the siding panels when the at least one of the siding panels is disposed on the building with the backer portion thereof being disposed between the building and the siding portion.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said providing a shim includes providing a shim that includes a sheet of shim stock having a plurality of spaced apart elongated indicators disposed thereon, the indicators extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock, and wherein said determining includes determining from the set of transverse dimensions of the at least first accessory whether or not the sheet of shim stock should be disunited at any of the indicator to form the first and second portions, wherein said retaining the sheet of shim stock includes retaining the sheet of shim stock without disuniting along any of the indicators, and wherein said disuniting includes determining that disuniting the sheet of shim stock along a particular one of the indicators will result in an elongated first portion having a predetermined transverse size that corresponds with at least a portion of the set of transverse dimensions and disuniting the sheet of shim stock along the particular one of the indicators to form the first portion.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein said providing a shim includes providing a shim that includes a sheet of shim stock having an elongated V-groove formed therein that is generally V-shaped and that extends substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock, the sheet of shim stock including an elongated first leg adjacent the V-groove and an elongated second leg adjacent the V-groove, and further comprising deflecting the sheet of shim stock about the V-groove between a substantially planar configuration wherein the first and second legs are generally coplanar and an angled configuration wherein the first and second legs are oriented non-coplanar.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising disposing the one of the sheet of shim stock and the first portion of the sheet of shim stock in the angled configuration on an outside corner of the building between the building and the at least first accessory.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising disposing the one of the sheet of shim stock and the first portion of the sheet of shim stock in the angled configuration on an inside corner of the building between the building and the at least first accessory.
 19. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least first accessory includes a plurality of elongated accessories used in conjunction with one another.
 20. A siding application on a building, the siding application comprising: an elongated accessory having a set of transverse dimensions and being disposed on the building; a shim; a number of siding panels disposed on the building, the siding panels generally each including a siding portion and a backer portion, the siding portion of at least one of the number of siding panels being aligned with the accessory, the backer portion of the at least one of the number siding panels being disposed between the building and the siding portion of the at least one of the number siding panels; the shim initially including an elongated sheet of shim stock having an average thickness and having an elongated indicator disposed on the sheet of shim stock and extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock; the indicator providing a detectable guide along which the sheet of shim stock was disunited to form an elongated first portion and an elongated second portion, the first portion having a transverse size that is at least in part predetermined by the location of the indicator on the sheet of shim stock, the transverse size of the first portion enabling it to cooperate with the accessory, with the transverse size of the first portion substantially corresponding with at least a portion of the set of transverse dimensions; the first portion being disposed between the accessory and the building and spacing the accessory away from the building a distance substantially equal to the average thickness of the first portion and into alignment with the siding portion of the at least one of the number of siding panels.
 21. The siding application of claim 20 wherein the first portion terminates at an elongated first side and an elongated second side, the at least first accessory terminating at an elongated first edge and an elongated second edge, the first side being disposed generally flush with the first edge, and the second side being disposed generally flush with the second edge.
 22. The siding application of claim 20 wherein the accessory includes a plurality of elongated accessories used in conjunction with one another.
 23. The siding application of claim 20 wherein the sheet of shim stock initially had a plurality of spaced apart elongated indicators extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the sheet of shim stock, one of the indicators having been selected to serve as a guide for disuniting the sheet of shim stock into the first and second portions in order to provide the first portion with the desired predetermined transverse size for use in conjunction with the accessory.
 24. The siding application of claim 23 wherein at least one of the indicators is a notch formed in the sheet of shim stock.
 25. The siding application of claim 20 wherein the first portion includes an elongated V-groove formed therein that is generally V-shaped and that extends substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the first portion, the first portion including an elongated first leg adjacent the V-groove and an elongated second leg adjacent the V-groove, the first portion being deflectable about the V-groove between a substantially planar configuration wherein the first and second legs are generally coplanar and an angled configuration wherein the first and second legs are oriented non-coplanar.
 26. The siding application of claim 25 wherein the sheet of shim stock initially included a plurality of elongated indicators disposed thereon, a first of the indicators being spaced in a first direction from the V-groove, a second of the indicators being spaced in a second direction from the V-groove, one of the indicators having been selected to serve as a guide for disuniting the sheet of shim stock into the first and second portions in order to provide the first portion with a desired predetermined transverse dimension for use in conjunction with the accessory.
 27. The siding application of claim 26 wherein the first of the indicators and the second of the indicators are spaced substantially equal distances in opposite directions from the V-groove.
 28. The siding application of claim 27 wherein the sheet of shim stock includes a first plurality of spaced apart indicators disposed thereon and spaced in a first direction from the V-groove, the sheet of shim stock further including a second plurality of spaced apart indicators disposed thereon and spaced in a second, opposite direction from the V-groove, the spacing of the first plurality of indicators in the first direction from the V-groove being substantially the same as the spacing of the second plurality of indicators in the second direction from the V-groove prior to the sheet of shim stock being disunited to form the first and second portions.
 29. The siding application of claim 28 wherein the sheet of shim stock includes a first face and a second face, the first plurality of indicators and the second plurality of indicators being disposed on the first face, the V-groove being disposed on the second face.
 30. The siding application of claim 29 wherein at least one of the indicators of the first and second pluralities of indicators is a notch formed in the sheet of shim stock, one of the indicators having been selected to serve as a guide for disuniting the sheet of shim stock in order to provide the first portion with a desired predetermined transverse size for use in conjunction with the accessory. 